Recharging device for use with portable electronic devices

• US 20070236180A1
• Filed: 04/06/2007
• Published: 10/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Andrew Rodgers
• Original Assignee: Andrew Rodgers
• Inventors: Rodgers, Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 8,013,572 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/115
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/342 The other DC source being a battery actively interacting with the first one, i.e. battery to battery charging with circuits for polarity protection H02J7/0034

Abstract

The present invention provides a recharging apparatus for use with portable electronic user devices such as cell phones, pagers, PDAs, as well as with portable battery powered devices such as flashlights. Charging circuitry is used to charge the user device battery from a battery of the recharging apparatus. The user is able to control the recharging process with a manual on/off switch that is part of the recharging apparatus. Optionally, a manual/automatic mode is provided that allows the user even greater flexibility over charging. Here, the user may select various conditions and options when recharging is permitted.

Claims

1. A portable recharging apparatus, comprising:

a housing;

a first receptacle within the housing for receiving a portable device having a main battery;

a second receptacle within the housing for receiving an auxiliary battery;

at least one electrical contact within the first receptacle, the electrical contact being operable to electrically connect the auxiliary battery to the portable device so that a charge of the auxiliary battery may be applied to the main battery of the portable device;

a first actuator disposed relative to the housing for selecting a power mode of the apparatus, the power mode enabling or disabling charging; and

a control unit for controlling flow of battery charge from the auxiliary battery to the main battery to recharge the main battery when in the enabling mode and to prevent recharge when in the disabling mode.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a second actuator within the housing for selecting an operation mode of the apparatus.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the operation mode is selected between an automatic mode and a manual mode.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the control unit controls the flow of battery charge from the auxiliary battery to the main battery in relation to the power mode and the operation mode of the apparatus.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a mechanical connector portion attached to the housing, the mechanical connector portion enabling the apparatus to be attached to an article of clothing.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a display positioned on the housing.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the display is operable to convey information relating to battery life.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the display is operable to convey information relating to battery life of the auxiliary battery.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the display is turned off in relation to a charge of the auxiliary battery reaching a predetermined level.

10. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the display is turned off in relation to a position of a third actuator which controls the display.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an electrical connector for connecting the auxiliary battery to an external power supply or charging device, so that a charge of the auxiliary battery may be restored via a charge applied by the external power supply or charging device through the electrical connector.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the electrical connector includes one of a universal connector and multiple adaptor connectors to couple to various charging devices.

13. A portable recharging apparatus for wireless telephones, comprising:

a housing;

a first receptacle within the housing for receiving a wireless telephone having a main battery;

a second receptacle within the housing for receiving an auxiliary battery;

at least one electrical contact within the first receptacle, the electrical contact being operable to electrically connect the auxiliary battery to the wireless telephone so that a charge of the auxiliary battery may be applied to the main battery of the wireless telephone;

a first actuator within the housing for setting a power mode of the apparatus to one of an on mode and an off mode;

a second actuator within the housing for setting an operation mode of the apparatus to one of an automatic mode and a manual mode; and

a processor, the processor being coupled to the first actuator and the second actuator, wherein the processor determines a power mode setting based on a setting of the first actuator and an operation mode setting based on a setting of the second actuator, and controls charging of the portable device in relation to the power mode setting and the operation mode setting.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the processor controls charging of the battery operated portable device in relation to a predetermined event.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the predetermined event occurs when a charge of the main battery reaching a predetermined level.

16. A portable recharging apparatus, comprising:

a housing for receiving a device;

an auxiliary power supply;

means for electrically connecting the auxiliary power supply to a main power supply of the device;

mode setting means for setting at least one of a power mode and an operation mode of the device;

control means for controlling supply of charge from the auxiliary power supply means to the main power supply based on a setting of the mode setting means; and

means for charging the auxiliary power supply from an external device.

17. A method for recharging a battery operated portable device, comprising:

determining a power mode of a recharge apparatus, the power mode being set to either an on state or an off state;

determining an operation mode of the recharge apparatus, the operation mode being set to either an automatic state or a manual state;

determining a charge level of a main battery of the portable device;

applying charge from an auxiliary battery to the main battery of the portable device, the charge being used to recharge the main battery, when either;

the power mode is set to the on state, or

the operation mode is set to the automatic state and the charge level of the main battery is below a predetermined level.

18. A recharging apparatus, comprising:

a portable charging controller operable to recharge a battery of a user device from an independent power source provided by the recharging apparatus;

a cradle for holding the device and electrically connecting the battery of the user device to the charging controller; and

a user selection actuator selectable between an open circuit mode and a closed circuit mode, the closed circuit mode providing an electrical connection between the power source and the charging controller for recharging the battery of the user device, and the open circuit mode disabling the electrical connection between the power source and the charging controller to prevent recharging of the user device battery.

19. The recharging apparatus of claim 18, further comprising a mode actuator for selecting between manual and automatic modes, wherein if the manual mode is selected, the user device battery is recharged when the closed circuit mode of the user selection actuator is selected, and if the automatic mode is selected, the user device is recharged according to one or more pre-selected conditions.

20. A recharging apparatus, comprising:

a portable charging controller operable to recharge a battery of a user device from an independent power source provided by the recharging apparatus;

a cradle for holding the device and electrically connecting the battery of the user device to the charging controller; and

a mode actuator for selecting between a plurality of charging modes, wherein the user device is recharged according to one or more pre-selected conditions associated with respective charging modes.